At Macomb Center: From Boys' to Men'

The Midtown Men -- Robert Spencer, from left, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Christian Hoff -- stars from the original Broadway cast of ”Jersey Boys,” appear at 8 p.m. Jan. 26 and 3 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township.

The “Jersey Boys” are back in town, only this time they’re headlining as The Midtown Men.

Midtown Men, formed in 2007, reunites the four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys,” including Tony Award-winning singers Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Tony Award-nominee J. Robert Spencer and Daniel Reichard.

“I am very excited,” Reichard said of the show coming to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Jan. 26 and 3 p.m. Jan. 27. “I love my friends in Ann Arbor. I grew up in Cleveland, but I went to the University of Michigan - so it feels a little like home to me.”

After graduating with a bachelor of fine arts from U-M, he headed to the Big Apple, where his tenor strength landed him a role in “Forbidden Broadway: 20th Anniversary Celebration.” That led to his portrayal of artist and social activist Keith Haring in “Radiant Baby” and Emmet in the world premiere of the musical version of Jim Henson’s “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas.”

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At age 25, he was living his dream.

That background put him more at ease than the other guys auditioning for “Jersey Boys,” the documentary musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Reichard also was under the impression that it was a regional show, and no big deal.

“I sang Billy Joel’s, ‘For the Longest Time,’” Reichard said. Then he read for the part of Tommy DeVito, the tough guy in the group. He did OK, but wasn’t the person they imagined for Tommy. In fact, the director told him he should instead look at the role of Bob Gaudio, and encouraged him to read for that part. Gaudio is the quiet but quintessential music maker who wrote his first hit for a group he started at age 15. It was his song, “Sherry,” that launched the incredible string of hits enjoyed by the Four Seasons.

Reichard did what the director asked, surprising the audition group who assumed he would need a day to prepare. On the way out, Reichard thanked everyone and added, “Oh, by the way, I play the piano too.”

His cute quip won them over and he was offered the job.

But did he really want it? That was the next question. “I was in love with New York,” Reichard said. The show was opening in California and for all he knew, closing there the week after. In fact, producers had to shell out free tickets in advance, just to be sure of a crowd for opening night at the La Jolla Playhouse at University of California, San Diego. Still, something was telling him to take a chance.

“It was the most life-changing decision I ever made,” Reichard said. “It literally changed all of our lives and our families’ lives.”

Not only did the show last longer than a few weeks, “Jersey Boys” played to packed houses around the world, and earned the group fame, a Tony Award (for Hoff) and Tony nomination (for Spencer), plus enough income for Reichard to afford a plush apartment in Greenwich Village. Midtown Men is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers, who were so, popular as a group that long after they left the show, were still being asked to sing as “The Jersey Boys.”

“We were constantly keeping this thing (a celebration of music) alive,” Reichard said. When it was clear they were being requested for their harmonies, rather than that of the characters, they decided to take the show on the road, making them the first vocal group ever formed by the principal cast of a high-profile Broadway show.

“Our calendar is completely full and we’re booking into 2014,” said Reichard, who likens himself to the Paul McCartney of the group. “Christian drives us forward to get the big things done. Michael disciplines us to be cautious and careful. Bob is the big dreamer, the optimist and the patient one. I think my role in some ways is to connect all of the different points of view.”

Before every performance they huddle as friends to say a prayer of thanks for each other, the music and the audience.

“We’re living the rock ‘n’ roller’s life -- waking up in a different city every day, going to rehearsals in the afternoon and then performing at night. “What’s come as a surprise is we’ve gotten to have this broad adventure and a comprehensive tour of the United States of America,” Reichard said.

Midtown Men performs 8 p.m. Jan. 26 and 3 p.m. Jan. 27, at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield at Hall Road in Clinton Township. Tickets, $55 gold circle, $50 house, $5 discount for ages 55 and older and military personnel, are available at www.MacombCenter.com, by phone at 586-286-2222, or at the box office 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon-6 p.m. Fridays.